Islington Council has decided to crack down on idling vehicles in a new campaign that is thought to be the first of its kind in the UK. Enforcement officers are tackling hotspots in the borough, trying to inform and educate drivers as to the benefits of turning off their engine. An idle engine can release just as much pollution into the air as a moving vehicle. Completely turning off the engine, though, can reduce the amount of harmful pollutants being released into the air, as well as cutting down the amount of fuel used. In addition to offering advice about the harmful effects that leaving vehicles idle can have, the council officers will also be able to hand out on-the-spot fines to drivers that don't switch off their engines when asked. Islington has worked alongside the Transport for London (TfL) to try and encourage high polluting buses to switch off their engines whilst idling at bus stops (such as when there is a driver change, or when the bus has reached the end of its route). However, the council believes that Boris Johnson, currently the mayor of London, could do more to promote the health of residents in the borough. Cllr Claudia Webbe, the Islington Council member for environment, said: 'We are committed to improving air quality in Islington which is why we are clamping down on idling buses, lorries and diesel cars, as part of our air quality strategy. 'We are taking action to tackle the problem of air pollution in Islington but we need Boris Johnson to do his share: by introducing a low-polluting bus fleet, and addressing the high number of polluting lorries that travel through our streets on a daily basis affecting residents' health.î The Mayor has estimated that 200 deaths in Islington each year are caused by poor air quality. The new campaign is simply the latest part of the council's scheme to reduce air pollution and increase air quality. It follows on from the launch of the Islington Air Quality Strategy, the introduction of 20mph speed limits and the 'Air Text' service for residents.
